What Are the Best Books for 5 or 6 Year Olds? Here’s What Grandmas Have to Say

I was thinking, recently, about the books that influenced me when I was growing up. I don’t remember what I was reading – or having read to me – when I was 5, but, I do remember being obsessed with the Nancy Drew series of books when I was around 12.

Of course, things were much simpler when I was growing up. Not only were there fewer books to choose from, but, like many girls, my parents didn’t have money to throw around. The books that I was able to get my hands on were treasured possessions, not disposable paper weights. At least that’s how I like to remember it. I’m sure that my parents would offer a different perspective on my ability to keep take care of things!

Today, things are different. The physical books stores that are still in business have 1000’s of titles to choose from. The children’s sections in most bookstores are bigger than most local libraries were in the 1950s. That’s not to mention Amazon, which has more books than you could read in many lifetimes. Kids born today may never even see a physical “book,” and may come to think of their iPad as being their own personal library.

So, with so many options out there, it’s sometimes difficult to know what books to share with our grandchildren. The good news is that we have each other to turn too. As women in our 60s, we have had a lifetime of picking books for our children and grandchildren. We also have our own childhood experiences to draw on.

I’d love to get your feedback on a few topics related to choosing books for 5 and 6 year olds. Please take a few minutes to answer one or more of the following questions in the comments section.

What do you think makes a great book for a 5 or 6 year old? Do you look for a book that has a message? Or do you prefer to find something “just for fun?”

What book have you bought for your 5 or 6 year old grandchild recently that was a big hit? Please share the name of the book so that we can all check it out.

Do you plan on introducing your grandchildren to any of the books that you read as a child? How about the books that you read to your children when they were growing up?

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